the outsider

Western red cedar is often Cobb’s preferred cladding, but he opts for a nontraditional installation: vertical, no V-grooves, rough side out. It’s “a very economical method for making a flat wall,” he says. Plus, the material naturally resists moisture, decay, and insect damage. This Cobb-designed house demonstrates the effect. Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, 866.778.9096; www.wrcla.org